DefinePK

Abstract

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop cultivated globally for its various uses in food, feed, and beverage industries. Developing high-yielding barley cultivars with desirable agronomic traits is crucial for meeting the growing demands of a rising global population. This study employed a line × tester mating design to evaluate the combining ability and genetic potential of diverse barley lines for key morphological characteristics. The research aimed to identify superior parental combinations and promising F1 hybrids with high specific combining ability (SCA) for further breeding programs. A set of four diverse barley lines were crossed with three well-adapted testers. The resulting F1 hybrids, along with their parental lines, were evaluated for various morphological traits, including plant height, days to headings, 1000 grains weight, spike length, grains per spike, and grain yield per plant. Data analysis revealed significant variation among genotypes for all evaluated traits. General combining ability (GCA) and SCA effects were estimated, and promising lines and hybrid combinations exhibiting high GCA and SCA for desirable traits were identified. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of morphological traits in barley and highlight the potential of line × tester analysis in identifying superior parental combinations for breeding programs aimed at developing improved barley cultivars with enhanced agronomic performance.